There’s just one more week until kickoff for the regular NFL season. While many people eagerly await the beginning of the football, filling out fantasy brackets and betting on new players, there is a subset of Americans who don’t particularly enjoy the sport. So for those that aren’t avid fans of the pigskin, here are five things to look forward to during football season.

The Minnesota Vikings play in a division that has been up for grabs all season long. They’ve had four losses — and a tie — by four points or less. So many factors led to the Vikings (4-9-1) being on the outside looking in as the season winds down. But one appears to stick out more than any other.

Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer is describing the extremely rough time he had, dealing with a season-ending concussion. The injury caused enough concern that it forced Mauer’s move from catcher to first base.

It may not feel like it, what with 80-degree temperatures this week, but hockey season is upon us. As the Minnesota Wild prepares for its opening night on Thursday, the cooks of Levy Restaurants at the Xcel Energy Center are busy cooking new creations for fans.

Celebrating a resurgence of racing, Canterbury Park wrapped up one of its most successful seasons in its colorful history. Over the course of 69 days, attendance and handle, which is the amount of money bet on Canterbury races, rose to the highest levels since 1995.

Minnesota starting cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Boddy-Calhoun was hurt last week at New Mexico State. Coach Jerry Kill revealed the injury on Tuesday. He said he expected Boddy-Calhoun to qualify for a medical redshirt from the NCAA, which would give him two more years of eligibility.

Minnesota’s Marcus Jones returned the second half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and the Gophers pulled away for a 51-23 victory over UNLV on Thursday, the 23rd loss in a row on the road for the Rebels.

June and July are the biggest months for tornadoes in Minnesota, but the rest of the country is already off to a deadly start — including the largest tornado on record. The tornado that hit El Reno, Okla., measured 2.6 miles wide.

If you’re getting tired of waiting for spring, so are the people who tap maple syrup. The syrup season is getting a late start this year, by about a few weeks in some parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

A day after the Minnesota Vikings reported Percy Harvin has been placed on injured reserve — effectively ending his season — Harvin has issued a statement, saying he’s disappointed but not ready to play.